Become a Southern Circuit Screening Partner

Screening Partner applications for the 2022-2023 Southern Circuit season are open through May 3, 2022.

Bring independent documentary filmmakers to your community for screenings and conversations around powerful stories and the art of filmmaking. Screening Partners are partner organizations that present Southern Circuit screenings, Q&As, and other filmmaker engagements with the community. Screening Partners develop screening audiences through strategic marketing and partnerships. As a group, they participate in the film selection process and discuss programming/marketing strategies for each film. Screening Partners act as hosts to touring filmmakers, providing recommendations for travel, lodging, and dining.

South Arts coordinates filmmaker tours and provides marketing materials for each film. South Arts recognizes the value of filmmaker participation by providing an honorarium for each filmmaker’s tour, with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Screening Partners must be nonprofit, educational, or governmental organizations residing in the South Arts region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Southern Circuit Screening Partners have included schools, churches, arts centers, municipalities, and other organizations, serving audiences of all ages.

Southern Circuit is invested in partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the South Arts region. To discuss a potential partnership, please contact Jordan Young at jyoung@southarts.org or (404) 874-7244, Ext. 824.

What films are presented?

Southern Circuit prioritizes featuring Southern filmmakers and stories. We are committed to presenting films by filmmakers of color, LGBTQ+ filmmakers, and filmmakers with disabilities. Selected filmmakers should have an ethical relationship with the topics and individuals/communities represented in their work. We are invested in including emerging and first-time filmmakers.

Screening Partners are provided a Southern Circuit Film Guide with potential selections for the season. Screening Partners work together to select six films that will tour to all Screening Partners. The Southern Circuit Film Selection Meeting will be held June 9-10, 2022.  At least one representative from your organization will be required to participate.

Dates and Deadlines:

• Screening Partner applications must be submitted on or before May 3, 2022.
• Applicants will be notified of their status May 17, 2022.
• Screening Partners will attend a virtual film selection meeting June 9-10, 2022.
• Film screenings (6 total) will occur monthly September - November, 2022 and February - April, 2023.

Non-profit, educational, and governmental organizations (i.e. Screening Partners) that host the 2022-2023 Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers are required to:

• Provide South Arts a participation fee of $5,000. Participation fees are invoiced in Spring 2022 and must be paid by August 31, 2022. If the participation fee is a barrier to your organization’s participation, please contact Jordan Young at (404) 874-7244, Ext. 824 or jyoung@southarts.org
• Return signed contract to South Arts by May 31, 2022.
• New Screening Partners must participate in an introductory Southern Circuit webinar to review program expectations and requirements. The webinar will be presented June 2022.
• At least one representative from your organization will be required to participate in the online Southern Circuit Film Selection Meeting, June 9-10, 2022. During the meeting, representatives will select films and filmmakers that will tour with the 2022-2023 Southern Circuit.
• Present in-person screenings and audience Q&As with visiting filmmakers.
• Provide advance promotion within your community for each screening, including but not limited to print, electronic, and social media.
• Participate in a Southern Circuit marketing & audience development webinar to discuss marketing/communications strategies for the season’s films and how to effectively manage filmmaker relationships. The webinar will be presented in Summer 2022.
• Provide a qualified projectionist and functional projection and audio equipment. Blu-ray or DCP are preferred formats.
• Make recommendations for safe, clean, economical overnight accommodations for each filmmaker. Organizations may make reservations on behalf of filmmakers. Filmmakers are responsible for payment of accommodations based on applicable per diem.

• Solicit films and coordinate preliminary review of submitted films.
• Coordinate the selection process for filmmakers and films to tour with the 2022-2023 Southern Circuit.
• Contract filmmakers to screen work, participate in post-screening discussions, community engagement events, and provide promotional materials.
• Provide Screening Partners with promotional materials for each film.
• Provide informational webinars to Screening Partners.
• Provide filmmaker travel itineraries.
• Provide filmmaker per diem for travel, lodging, and meals.
• Provide ongoing support to filmmakers and Screening Partners.
• South Arts recognizes the value of filmmakers’ participation by providing artists honoraria with the support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

• Non-profit, educational, or governmental organizations within South Arts’ nine-state region: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. 
• Non-profit tax-exempt status or an official unit of local, county or state government. Tax-exempt status will be verified by a third-party entity. Proof of governmental status is required. Fiscal agents will not be considered.
• Applicants must have a DUNS number. Applications will not be accepted from organizations that do not have a DUNS number. Visit the Dun & Bradstreet website for additional information about DUNS numbers as well as instructions on how to receive one.
• Projects must take place in South Arts’ nine-state region.
• Applicants must acknowledge the support of South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts in all marketing activities and contact with traditional (print, radio, TV) and social media.
• Complete and submit a final report to South Arts at the conclusion of the tour.
• Invited Screening Partners must comply with eligibility requirements. Failure to do so will result in disqualification of future project participation and grant funds from South Arts.

• Screenings must take place between September 2022 and April 2023.
• Events must be marketed to and include the public. Projects are not required to serve the entire geographic community but should make diverse audiences a goal.
• Applicants are required to provide reasonable accommodations for constituents with disabilities during events, and to include physical access (ramps, accessible parking/box office/restrooms/seating, etc.). Communications and programmatic accessibility are required and can also help your organization build audiences and strengthen engagement. Please visit the NEA's website for more information. Applicants must commit to the Endowment’s Assurance of Compliance.
• An electronic final report must be submitted at the conclusion of the Southern Circuit season by May 31, 2023 to South Arts.